Synthesis of Esters Via a Greener Steglich Esterification in Acetonitrile

Andrew B. Lutjen; Mackenzie A. Quirk; Erin M. Kolonko

doi:10.3791/58803

JoVE Journal > Chemistry

Chemie

Synthesis of Esters Via a Greener Steglich Esterification in Acetonitrile

Published: October 30, 2018

doi:

10.3791/58803

Andrew B. Lutjen¹, Mackenzie A. Quirk¹, Erin M. Kolonko¹

¹Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,Siena College

Summary

A modified Steglich esterification reaction was used to synthesize a small library of ester derivatives with primary and secondary alcohols. The methodology uses a non-halogenated and greener solvent, acetonitrile, and enables product isolation in high yields without the need for chromatographic purification.

Abstract

The Steglich esterification is a widely-used reaction for the synthesis of esters from carboxylic acids and alcohols. While efficient and mild, the reaction is commonly performed using chlorinated or amide solvent systems, which are hazardous to human health and the environment. Our methodology utilizes acetonitrile as a greener and less hazardous solvent system. This protocol exhibits rates and yields that are comparable to traditional solvent systems and employs an extraction and wash sequence that eliminates the need for the purification of the ester product via column chromatography. This general method can be used to couple a variety of carboxylic acids with 1° and 2° aliphatic alcohols, benzylic and allylic alcohols, and phenols to obtain pure esters in high yields. The goal of the protocol detailed here is to provide a greener alternative to a common esterification reaction, which could serve useful for ester synthesis in both academic and industrial applications.

Introduction

Ester compounds are widely used for the applications such as flavor compounds, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and materials. Commonly, the use of carbodiimide coupling reagents is used to facilitate an ester formation from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol¹. For example, in the Steglich esterification, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) is reacted with a carboxylic acid in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) to form an activated acid derivative, generally in a chlorinated solvent system or dimethylformamide (DMF)²^,³^,⁴. The activated acid derivative then undergoes a nucleophilic acyl substitution with an alcohol to form the ester product, which is usually purified via chromatography. The Steglich esterification enables mild coupling of large, complex carboxylic acids and alcohols, including sterically hindered secondary and tertiary alcohols²^,⁵^,⁶. The goal of this work is to modify the standard Steglich esterification protocol to provide a greener synthetic option for this common esterification reaction.

One important aspect in the design of new synthetic methodology is to seek to minimize the use and formation of hazardous substances. The Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry⁷ can be used to provide a guideline for creating safer syntheses. Some of these include the prevention of waste generation (Principle 1) and the use of safer solvents (Principle 5). In particular, solvents account for 80-90% of the non-aqueous mass of the materials in pharmaceutical manufacturing⁸. Thus, modifying a protocol to use a less hazardous solvent can make a large impact on the greenness of an organic reaction.

Steglich esterification reactions often use anhydrous chlorinated solvent systems or DMF; however, these solvents are of concern for both the environment and human health. Dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂) and chloroform (CHCl₃) are probable human carcinogens, and DMF has reproductive toxicity concerns⁹. In addition, CH₂Cl₂ is ozone depleting¹⁰. Thus, a less hazardous solvent for the Steglich esterification would be of great utility. While there are not yet green replacements for polar aprotic solvents, acetonitrile is recommended as a greener replacement for CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, and DMF⁹. Acetonitrile is currently produced as a byproduct in acrylonitrile manufacturing; however, a green synthesis of acetonitrile from biomass on an academic scale has been reported¹¹, and potential options for the reuse and recovery from waste streams are being investigated¹². Acetonitrile has previously been used as a greener solvent alternative for carbodiimide coupling reactions in solid-phase peptide synthesis to form amide linkages¹³. The use of acetonitrile as a solvent system for Steglich esterifications has been demonstrated¹⁴^,¹⁵^,¹⁶^,¹⁷^,¹⁸^,¹⁹^,²⁰^,²¹; however, these methods have not focused on the green aspect of the solvent and also employ additional purification via column chromatography.

Reducing the need for column chromatography as a purification step also minimizes hazardous solvent waste⁸. In addition to using a less hazardous reaction solvent, the methodology enables the isolation of highly pure product without the need for chromatography. The traditionally used dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) coupling reagent is substituted with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). The basic amine functional group on this reagent enables the reaction byproducts and any residual reagents to be removed via acidic and basic wash steps.

The protocol presented herein can be used with a variety of acid and alcohol partners (Figure 1). It was used to synthesize a small library of cinnamyl ester derivatives using primary, secondary, benzyl, and allyl alcohols and phenols²². Additionally, the rate of the esterification reaction in acetonitrile is comparable to that in the chlorinated and DMF solvent systems, without a need to dry or distill the acetonitrile prior to the reaction²². Esters synthesized from tertiary alcohols have not been isolated, which is currently a limitation of the methodology compared to the traditional Steglich esterification in chlorinated solvent²³. In addition, other acid-labile groups could be affected by the acid wash steps, potentially necessitating column chromatography for purification after acetonitrile removal. Despite these limitations, the reaction is a facile and general method for the synthesis of esters in high yields using a range of both alcohol and carboxylic acid components. The use of a greener solvent system and high purity without the need for chromatography steps make this protocol an attractive alternative to a traditional Steglich esterification.

Figure 1. General reaction scheme. The general scheme for the reaction involves the coupling of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, which is facilitated using a carbodiimide coupling reagent (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride, or EDC) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) in acetonitrile. To demonstrate the reaction breadth, esters were formed using various acids (1–5) with either a primary (6) or secondary (7) alcohol. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Protocol

Caution: Consult Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) prior to the use of the chemicals in this procedure. Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including splash goggles, lab coat, and nitrile or butyl gloves as many of the reagents and solvents are corrosive or flammable. Carry out all reactions in a fume hood. It is unnecessary to dry glassware or to use a nitrogen atmosphere for this protocol.

1. Carbodiimide Coupling Reaction for Primary Alcohols

In a 50 mL round bottom flask, combine (E)-cinnamic acid (151 mg, 1.02 mmol, 1.2 equiv), DMAP (312 mg, 2.55 mmol, 3 equiv), and EDC (244 mg, 1.28 mmol, 1.5 equiv). Add acetonitrile (15 mL) and 3-methoxybenzyl alcohol (98 μL, 0.85 mmol, 1 equiv) to the mixture along with a stir bar.
CAUTION: Acetonitrile is a flammable solvent.
Clamp the flask in a 40 °C water bath and stir the reaction.
NOTE: If the reaction involves an aromatic alcohol, monitor the reaction for the loss of the alcohol via thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using 1:3 ethyl acetate/hexane. The reaction is complete when the alcohol spot is no longer visible on the TLC plate by irradiation with a UV lamp.

2. Extraction Workup

Once the reaction is complete as indicated by TLC or after 45 min, remove the acetonitrile under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to obtain a crude solid.
NOTE: Please see additional resources for the information regarding the use of a rotary evaporator²⁴^,²⁵.
To the residue, add diethyl ether (20 mL) and 1 M HCl (20 mL). Swirl the flask to dissolve the residue into the solvent layers.
CAUTION: Diethyl ether is a highly flammable solvent.
NOTE: To decrease the solvent hazard, ethyl acetate can be used in place of the diethyl ether; however, there is a greater potential for emulsion formation during the extraction and wash steps.
Pour the solution into a separatory funnel. Rinse the evaporating flask with additional diethyl ether (5 mL) and add the rinse to the separatory funnel.
Gently shake the separatory funnel to extract the product into the ether layer, venting periodically. Allow the layers to separate, and then remove the aqueous layer by draining it out from the bottom of the funnel into an Erlenmeyer flask or beaker.
NOTE: Please see additional resources for the information regarding extractions and the use of a separatory funnel²⁴^,²⁵.

3. Washing Procedure

To the organic layer remaining in the separatory funnel, add 1 M HCl (20 mL) and gently shake the separatory flask, venting periodically. Allow the layers to separate, and then remove the aqueous layer by draining it out from the bottom of the funnel into an Erlenmeyer flask or beaker.
Repeat the washing procedure with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (2 x 20 mL) and then with saturated sodium chloride solution (20 mL).
Pour the organic layer out from the top of the separatory funnel into a clean Erlenmeyer flask, dry the layer with magnesium sulfate, and gravity filter the solution through filter paper into a massed evaporation flask.
NOTE: Please see additional resources for information regarding extractions and the use of magnesium sulfate as a drying agent²⁴^,²⁵.
Remove the diethyl ether solvent under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator.
Analyze a sample of the product by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy in CDCl₃ and by mass spectrometry.
NOTE: Please see additional resources for the information regarding the preparation of samples for NMR analysis²⁴^,²⁵.

4. Carbodiimide Coupling Reaction for Secondary and Electron-deficient Alcohols

In a 50 mL round bottom flask, combine (E)-cinnamic acid (151 mg, 1.02 mmol, 1.2 equiv), DMAP (312 mg, 2.55 mmol, 3 equiv), and EDC (244 mg, 1.28 mmol, 1.5 equiv). Add acetonitrile (15 mL) and diphenylmethanol (157 mg, 0.85 mmol, 1 equiv) to the mixture along with a stir bar.
CAUTION: Acetonitrile is a flammable solvent.
Clamp the flask and stir the reaction at room temperature for 24 h. Insert an air condenser into the flask neck to minimize solvent evaporation.
Follow the extraction workup and washing procedure described in Steps 2-3 above.

5. Carbodiimide Coupling Reaction for Long-Chain or Hydrophobic Carboxylic Acids

In a 50 mL round bottom flask, combine decanoic acid (146 mg, 0.85 mmol, 1 equiv), DMAP (312 mg, 2.55 mmol, 3 equiv), and EDC (244 mg, 1.28 mmol, 1.5 equiv). Add acetonitrile (15 mL) and diphenylmethanol (157 mg, 0.85 mmol, 1 equiv) to the mixture along with a stir bar.
CAUTION: Acetonitrile is a flammable solvent.
Clamp the flask and stir the reaction at room temperature for 24 h. Insert an air condenser into the flask neck to minimize solvent evaporation. If a primary alcohol is used, stir the reaction in a water bath at 40 °C for 1 h.
Follow the extraction workup and washing procedure described in Steps 2-3 above.

Representative Results

Using the modified Steglich esterification in acetonitrile followed by an acid-base extraction workup, 3-methoxybenzyl cinnamate (8) was obtained as a light-yellow oil (205 mg, 90% yield) without the need for column chromatography. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra are presented in Figure 2 to confirm the structure and to indicate purity.

Compounds 9–17 were synthesized using a similar protocol (Figure 3) with yields of 77-90%. All compounds were analyzed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and found to be of similar purity to 3-methoxybenzyl cinnamate by NMR analysis. Tabulated data for compounds 8–17 is reported in Table 1.

Slight changes to the general protocol for primary alcohols were made to obtain optimal yields and purity for compounds 12–17. Secondary alcohol reactions were run for 24 h at room temperature to allow the reaction to go to completion²². For the decanoic acid reactions, using 1.2 equivalents of carboxylic acid to 1 equivalent of alcohol for both primary and secondary alcohols yielded esters with a decanoic acid impurity (Figure 4). The long-chain acid is not soluble in the basic aqueous wash layers and remains in the organic layer. Other hydrophobic acids could behave similarly. This issue was solved by used a 1:1 molar ratio of decanoic acid to alcohol, which yielded pure ester products. A slightly longer reaction time (60 min) was required for the primary alcohol reaction to go to completion for the 1:1 molar ratio reaction.

Figure 2. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra for 3-methoxybenzyl cinnamate (8). The ¹H NMR spectrum (A) and ¹³C NMR spectrum (B) of 3-methoxybenzyl cinnamate are shown with the product structure. Corresponding assignments are denoted on each spectrum and were confirmed using ¹H-¹H COSY, ¹H-¹³C HSQC, and ¹H-¹³C HMBC 2D NMR experiments. Spectra were obtained after solvent removal; no additional purification steps were used. The purity of this compound is representative of all reactions tested. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 3. Ester structures synthesized using the methodology. Five acids (1-5, Figure 1) were combined with either a primary or secondary alcohol (6 and 7, respectively, Figure 1). The ester structures (8-17) are shown along with the percent yield for the reaction. Reactions were monitored for loss of the alcohol by TLC (1:3 ethyl acetate/hexane). Primary alcohol reactions were run at 40 °C in a water bath for 45 min for esters 8-11 and 60 min for ester 12. Secondary alcohol reactions were run for 24 h at room temperature. For decanoic acid reactions (12 and 17), 1 molar equivalent of carboxylic acid to alcohol was used instead of 1.2 equivalents. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Figure 4. ¹H NMR spectra for diphenylmethyl decanoate (17) using 1:1.2 and 1:1 molar equivalents of alcohol to carboxylic acid. (A) Decanoic acid (1.2 equiv, top, or 1 equiv, bottom) was reacted with diphenylmethanol (1 equiv), EDC (1.5 equiv), and DMAP (3 equiv) in acetonitrile. The reactions were stirred at room temperature for 24 h and then the ester was isolated via the extraction and wash protocol. Residual decanoic acid remains in the product when the carboxylic acid is used in excess, as it is not soluble in the basic aqueous layer. The signal at 2.35 ppm shown in the inset indicates residual carboxylic acid in the product sample. (B) The use of a 1:1 ratio of carboxylic acid to alcohol enables a clean isolation of the ester, indicated by the loss of the signal at 2.35 ppm. Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.

Compound	R_f (1:3 EtOAc/hex); appearance	¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃)	¹³C NMR (126 MHz, CDCl₃)	HRMS
3-methoxybenzyl cinnamate (8)	3-methoxybenzyl alcohol R_f = 0.27; Product R_f = 0.61; light yellow oil	δ 7.77 (d, J = 16.0 Hz, 1H), 7.60 – 7.50 (m, 2H), 7.49 – 7.36 (m, 3H), 7.33 (t, J = 7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.03 (ddd, J = 7.4, 1.5, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 7.02 – 6.97 (m, 1H), 6.91 (ddd, J = 8.3, 2.6, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.53 (d, J = 16.0 Hz, 1H), 5.26 (s, 2H), 3.86 (s, 3H)	δ 166.8, 159.8, 145.2, 137.6, 134.4, 130.4, 129.7, 128.9, 128.1, 120.4, 117.9, 113.8, 113.7, 66.2, 55.3	ESI calcd for C₁₇H₁₆O₃ (M+Na)⁺ 291.0992, found 291.0993
3-methoxybenzyl phenylacetate (9)	R_f = 0.57; light yellow oil	δ 7.35 – 7.27 (m, 5H), 7.25 (t, J = 8.6 Hz, 1H), 6.89 (ddd, J = 7.4, 1.5, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 6.85 (ddd, J = 8.3, 2.6, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 6.83 – 6.81 (m, 1H), 5.11 (s, 2H), 3.77 (s, 3H), 3.68 (s, 2H)	δ 171.3, 159.8, 137.4, 133.9, 129.6, 129.3, 128.6, 127.1, 120.2, 113.9, 113.3, 66.4, 55.2, 41.4	ESI calcd for C₁₆H₁₆O₃ (M+Na)⁺ 279.0992, found 279.0990
3-methoxybenzyl butyrate (10)	R_f = 0.68; colorless oil	δ 7.27 (t, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 6.93 (ddd, J = 7.5, 1.6, 0.8 Hz, 1H), 6.90 – 6.88 (m, 1H), 6.86 (ddd, J = 8.2, 2.6, 1.0 Hz, 1H), 5.09 (s, 2H), 3.81 (s, 3H), 2.35 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 2H), 1.68 (h, J = 7.4 Hz, 2H), 0.95 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 3H).	δ 173.5, 159.8, 137.7, 129.6, 120.3, 113.7, 113.6, 65.9, 55.2, 36.2, 18.5, 13.7	ESI calcd for C₁₂H₁₆O₃ (M+Na)⁺ 231.0992, found 231.0991
3-methoxybenzyl hexanoate (11)	R_f = 0.74; colorless oil	δ 7.27 (d, J = 7.7 Hz, 1H), 6.93 (ddd, J = 7.5, 1.6, 0.6 Hz, 1H), 6.90 – 6.88 (m, 1H), 6.85 (ddd, J = 8.2, 2.6, 0.9 Hz, 1H), 5.09 (s, 2H), 3.81 (s, 3H), 2.35 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.74 – 1.56 (m, 2H), 1.39 – 1.25 (m, 4H), 0.89 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H)	δ 173.6, 159.8, 137.7, 129.6, 120.3, 113.7, 113.6, 65.9, 55.2, 34.3, 31.3, 24.7, 22.3, 13.9	ESI calcd for C₁₄H₂₀O₃ (M+Na)⁺ 259.1305, found 259.1304
3-methoxybenzyl decanoate (12)	R_f = 0.71; colorless oil	δ 7.27 (t, J = 7.9 Hz, 1H), 6.93 (ddd, J = 7.5, 1.6, 0.6 Hz, 1H), 6.90 – 6.87 (m, 1H), 6.88 (ddd, J = 8.3, 2.5, 0.6 Hz, 1H), 5.09 (s, 2H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 2.35 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H), 1.76 – 1.52 (m, 2H), 1.42 – 1.12 (m, 12H), 0.88 (t, J = 7.0 Hz, 3H)	δ 173.7, 159.8, 137.7, 129.6, 120.3, 113.7, 113.6, 65.9, 55.2, 34.3, 31.9, 29.4, 29.3, 29.2, 25.0, 22.7, 14.1	ESI calcd for C₁₈H₂₈O₃ (M+Na)⁺ 315.1931, found 315.1931
diphenylmethyl cinnamate (13)	diphenylmethanol R_f = 0.47; Product R_f = 0.66; white solid	δ 7.79 (d, J = 16.0 Hz, 1H), 7.60 – 7.54 (m, 2H), 7.46 – 7.36 (m, 11H), 7.35 – 7.30 (m, 2H), 7.05 (s, 1H), 6.60 (d, J = 16.0 Hz, 1H)	δ 166.0, 145.4, 140.3, 134.4, 130.4, 128.9, 128.5, 128.2, 127.9, 127.2, 118.0, 77.0	ESI calcd for C₂₂H₁₈O₂ (M+Na)⁺ 337.1199, found 337.1191
diphenylmethyl phenylacetate (14)	R_f = 0.66; light yellow oil	δ 7.35 – 7.19 (m, 15H), 6.87 (s, 1H), 3.72 (s, 2H)	δ 170.4, 140.1, 133.8, 129.4, 128.6, 128.5, 127.9, 127.1, 127.0, 77.2, 41.7	ESI calcd for C₂₁H₁₈O₂ (M+Na)⁺ 325.1199, found 325.1201
diphenylmethyl butyrate (15)	R_f = 0.72; light yellow oil	δ 7.37 – 7.30 (m, 10H), 7.29 – 7.25 (m, 2H), 6.89 (s, 1H), 2.40 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.69 (h, J = 7.4 Hz, 2H), 0.93 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 3H)	δ 172.6, 140.4, 128.5, 127.8, 127.1, 76.6, 36.5, 18.5, 13.7	ESI calcd for C₁₇H₁₈O₂ (M+Na)⁺ 277.1199, found 279.1197
diphenylmethyl hexanoate (16)	R_f = 0.76; light yellow oil	δ 7.36 – 7.29 (m, 8H), 7.29 – 7.24 (m, 2H), 6.89 (s, 1H), 2.41 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.72 – 1.60 (m, 2H), 1.36 – 1.21 (m, 4H), 0.87 (t, J = 7.0 Hz, 3H)	δ 172.8, 140.4, 128.5, 127.8, 127.1, 76.6, 34.6, 31.3, 24.6, 22.3, 13.9	ESI calcd for C₁₉H₂₂O₂ (M+Na)⁺ 305.1512, found 305.1509
diphenylmethyl decanoate (17)	R_f = 0.76; light yellow oil	δ 7.35 – 7.29 (m, 8H), 7.29 – 7.23 (m, 2H), 6.89 (s, 1H), 2.41 (t, J = 7.5 Hz, 2H), 1.71 – 1.59 (m, 2H), 1.33 – 1.18 (m, 12H), 0.87 (t, J = 7.0 Hz, 3H)	δ 172.8, 140.4, 128.5, 127.9, 127.1, 76.6, 34.6, 31.9, 29.4, 29.3, 29.1, 25.0, 22.7, 14.1	ESI calcd for C₂₃H₃₀O₂ (M+Na)⁺ 361.2138, found 361.2150

Table 1. Tabulated data for compounds 8-17. Chemical shifts (δ) are reported in ppm, and coupling constants (J) are reported in hertz (Hz). Signals are reported as singlet (s), doublet (d), triplet (t), quartet (q), multiplet (m), or combinations of the above. HRMS data are reported as m/z.

Discussion

The methodology presented here was developed to minimize the hazards from solvent associated with a traditional Steglich esterification by using a greener solvent system and by reducing the need for column chromatography⁸^,⁹. Comparable reaction yields and rates can be achieved with the use of acetonitrile in place of dry chlorinated solvents or DMF²².

Several key steps enable the efficient purification of product without the need for chromatography. After the reaction, the acetonitrile is first removed by rotary evaporation. The removal of solvent is essential, as acetonitrile is miscible with water and will affect the partitioning of reaction components during the extraction and wash steps. Basic impurities, including DMAP, EDC, and urea byproducts, are then removed with the acid wash steps. Any residual carboxylic acid is removed during the basic wash steps. Thus, all reagents and impurities can be removed, leaving ester in the organic layer. Subsequent drying and solvent removal led to high yields of pure ester products.

Adjustments of the protocol were needed to obtain high yields of ester product for the use of secondary alcohols or very hydrophobic carboxylic acids. The rate of the reaction for secondary or electron deficient alcohols is slower than that of primary alcohols, so it is necessary to either increase the reaction temperature (60 °C) or to run the reaction for longer time periods at room temperature. In addition, we found that excess carboxylic acid cannot be used if the acid is insoluble in the saturated sodium bicarbonate wash solution. For long chain carboxylic acids, such as decanoic acid, the reaction mixture should have a 1:1 ratio of alcohol to carboxylic acid reagents to avoid a carboxylic acid impurity in the final product.

Various carboxylic acids and alcohol partners can be used in the formation of esters, shown here and in previous work²². However, esters of tertiary alcohols have not been isolated with the current methodology. As the ability to couple carboxylic acids to sterically hindered tertiary alcohols is a common application of the Steglich esterification²³, the inability to obtain esters with tertiary alcohols is a limitation of the current methodology. We are pursuing NMR kinetics studies to investigate the mechanism and constraints of this reaction both in acetonitrile-d₃ and chloroform-d. In the future, we hope to adapt the method to enable the synthesis of esters with tertiary alcohols.

In summary, this work describes a greener Steglich esterification protocol that can be utilized for the synthesis of esters of various carboxylic acids with primary, secondary, benzylic and allylic alcohols and phenols. The methodology provides a less hazardous alternative to a common esterification reaction.

Offenlegungen

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Siena College and the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. We thank Dr. Thomas Hughes and Dr. Kristopher Kolonko for helpful conversations, Ms. Allycia Barbera for early stage work on this methodology, and the Siena College Stewart's Advanced Instrumentation and Technology (SAInT) Center for instrumentation resources.

Materials

trans -cinnamic acid	Acros Organics	158571000
butyric acid	Sigma-Aldrich	B103500	Caution: corrosive
hexanoic acid	Sigma-Aldrich	153745-100G	Caution: corrosive
decanoic acid	Sigma-Aldrich	21409-5G	Caution: corrosive
phenylacetic acid	Sigma-Aldrich	P16621-5G
3-methoxybenzyl alcohol	Sigma-Aldrich	M11006-25G
diphenylmethanol	Acros Organics	105391000	Benzhydrol
chloroform-d	Acros Organics	166260250	99.8% with 1% v/v tetramethylsilane, Caution: toxic
hexane	BDH Chemicals	BDH1129-4LP	Caution: flammable
ethyl acetate	Sigma-Aldrich	650528	Caution: flammable
diethyl ether	Fisher Scientific	E138-500	Caution: flammable
acetonitrile	Fisher Scientific	A21-1	ACS Certified, >99.5%, Caution: flammable
4-dimethylaminopyridine	Acros Organics	148270250	Caution: toxic
magnesium sulfate	Fisher Scientific	M65-3
hydrochloric acid, 1 M	Fisher Scientific	S848-4	Caution: corrosive
sodium chloride	BDH Chemicals	BDH8014
sodium bicarbonate	Fisher Scientific	S25533B
1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride	Chem-Impex	00050	Caution: skin and eye irritant
thin layer chromatography plates	EMD Millipore	1055540001	aluminum backed sheets
Note: All commercially available reagents and solvents were used as received without further purification.

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Lutjen, A. B., Quirk, M. A., Kolonko, E. M. Synthesis of Esters Via a Greener Steglich Esterification in Acetonitrile. J. Vis. Exp. (140), e58803, doi:10.3791/58803 (2018).